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San Francisco Chronicle
May 24, 2007
Pg. 10
Plight of California cardiologist spurs action by Congress
By Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Washington -- Moving with unbelievable speed for Congress, the House eased the financial burden of a Lake County cardiologist Wednesday by making it possible for doctors called up to active military duty to keep their practices intact without suffering a significant loss of income.
The nearly unanimous vote on a bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, came just two days after a story in The Chronicle called attention to the congressman's effort to help his Lakeport constituent, Dr. Brad Clair.
The doctor, an Army Reserve major, is heading to Iraq at the end of May on his third military deployment since 2004. Clair is scheduled to serve for 90 days, and he anticipates it will take another 10 days to get back and forth to his posting in Anbar province.
Clair, a 50-year-old cardiologist with a solo practice, faced the prospect of losing thousands of dollars to keep his practice going while he serves his military commitment. Medicare rules cut off reimbursements after 60 days to doctors who hire replacements to care for their patients while they are away.
After the vote, Clair said in a telephone interview, "That was nice. I'm very grateful that Thompson pushed it through. It was also nice to see, from a citizen's point of view, that they acted in a bipartisan and expeditious fashion."
Clair said he hopes the legislation, which must still be approved by the Senate, will help other doctor-soldiers. "It may decrease the amount of doctors who want to leave the Reserves because of this problem," Clair said.
Thompson and his co-sponsor, Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, never even had much of a chance to formally introduce their bill before it was called up on the House floor for a vote Wednesday, so great was the bipartisan feeling that volunteer doctor-soldiers shouldn't be penalized by their own government for serving in the Reserves or National Guard.
"It's time we help our weekend warriors to keep their practices and keep their patients,'' Johnson said.
With the Iraq war now in its fifth year, "I'm surprised we haven't heard of this problem before," Johnson added.
Thompson had to amend his original proposal to allow Medicare to reimburse physician-reservists like Clair this year as long as they are away on duty. Thompson will introduce a second bill to make the provision permanent beyond 2007.
"We recognize the plight of these physicians and their patients. It's important we fix this now and then work for a permanent fix," Thompson said.
The bill was approved 422-0 with one member voting present. Thompson's office hopes for quick action in the Senate.
Clair found doctors to treat his patients during two previous deployments. He recently found a doctor to fill in during his third deployment, but the substitute won't arrive in Lakeport until 10 days after Clair leaves.
Clair said he would have been able to survive financially even if Congress hadn't acted, but he raised the issue with Thompson because other doctor-reservists may find it harder to keep their practices going.
Clair swallowed thousands of dollars in unreimbursed Medicare costs during his first two deployments and acknowledged a third deployment since 2004 could deepen his financial hole.
May 24, 2007
Pg. 10
Plight of California cardiologist spurs action by Congress
By Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Washington -- Moving with unbelievable speed for Congress, the House eased the financial burden of a Lake County cardiologist Wednesday by making it possible for doctors called up to active military duty to keep their practices intact without suffering a significant loss of income.
The nearly unanimous vote on a bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, came just two days after a story in The Chronicle called attention to the congressman's effort to help his Lakeport constituent, Dr. Brad Clair.
The doctor, an Army Reserve major, is heading to Iraq at the end of May on his third military deployment since 2004. Clair is scheduled to serve for 90 days, and he anticipates it will take another 10 days to get back and forth to his posting in Anbar province.
Clair, a 50-year-old cardiologist with a solo practice, faced the prospect of losing thousands of dollars to keep his practice going while he serves his military commitment. Medicare rules cut off reimbursements after 60 days to doctors who hire replacements to care for their patients while they are away.
After the vote, Clair said in a telephone interview, "That was nice. I'm very grateful that Thompson pushed it through. It was also nice to see, from a citizen's point of view, that they acted in a bipartisan and expeditious fashion."
Clair said he hopes the legislation, which must still be approved by the Senate, will help other doctor-soldiers. "It may decrease the amount of doctors who want to leave the Reserves because of this problem," Clair said.
Thompson and his co-sponsor, Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, never even had much of a chance to formally introduce their bill before it was called up on the House floor for a vote Wednesday, so great was the bipartisan feeling that volunteer doctor-soldiers shouldn't be penalized by their own government for serving in the Reserves or National Guard.
"It's time we help our weekend warriors to keep their practices and keep their patients,'' Johnson said.
With the Iraq war now in its fifth year, "I'm surprised we haven't heard of this problem before," Johnson added.
Thompson had to amend his original proposal to allow Medicare to reimburse physician-reservists like Clair this year as long as they are away on duty. Thompson will introduce a second bill to make the provision permanent beyond 2007.
"We recognize the plight of these physicians and their patients. It's important we fix this now and then work for a permanent fix," Thompson said.
The bill was approved 422-0 with one member voting present. Thompson's office hopes for quick action in the Senate.
Clair found doctors to treat his patients during two previous deployments. He recently found a doctor to fill in during his third deployment, but the substitute won't arrive in Lakeport until 10 days after Clair leaves.
Clair said he would have been able to survive financially even if Congress hadn't acted, but he raised the issue with Thompson because other doctor-reservists may find it harder to keep their practices going.
Clair swallowed thousands of dollars in unreimbursed Medicare costs during his first two deployments and acknowledged a third deployment since 2004 could deepen his financial hole.